49ers place special-teams standout Dobbs on IR

On Sunday, Jim Harbaugh said he thought the 49ers might have “dodged a bullet” when asked about the knee injury sustained by reserve defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs, but his optimism was unfounded.

The team has placed Dobbs, a special-teams standout who had played 44 defensive snaps, on the season-ending injured reserve list today. Dobbs, who was on crutches after he was injured in Sunday’s win over Miami, underwent an MRI on Monday. Entering last week’s game, Dobbs led the 49ers with 567 special-teams points, according to a grading system used the coaching staff.

With Dobbs on IR and running back Brandon Jacobs suspended for the final three regular-season games, the 49ers have two open spots on their 53-man roster.

San Francisco was reportedly set to sign linebacker Matt McCoy, an eight-year veteran who carved out a role on special teams in Seattle from 2010-11. McCoy, however, sustained a serious knee injury last year and did not pass his physical, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.